Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIGA292
2009-05-27 14:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
LATVIA: BROADBAND INTERNET DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
how-toVZCZCXRO3912 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRA #0292 1471410 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271410Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5858 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS RIGA 000292
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ECON LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: BROADBAND INTERNET DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
Ref: State 27310
UNCLAS RIGA 000292
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ECON LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: BROADBAND INTERNET DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
Ref: State 27310
1. In 2006 and 2007, Latvia carried out several small projects to
increase internet access in Latvian provinces and a single
major-scale project to increase broadband access in rural areas. The
projects were implemented and co-financed by local governments and
the central government, with the majority of the funding provided by
EU structural funds. Latvia has listed internet access and
availability promotion as an activity eligible for EU structural
funds for the 2007-2013 EU budgetary period, but this activity is
not designed to target rural areas or specifically increase
broadband deployment. However, given Latvia's severe economic
decline and the associated budgetary issues, the outlook for
additional projects in the future is grim.
2. Falling budget revenues have significantly limited Latvia's
ability to co-finance any EU projects. There are bureaucratic
obstacles as well, since Latvia has not yet adopted guidelines and
evaluation criteria necessary to launch this program. One reason
behind this delay is the GOL plan to reprioritize the national list
of activities eligible for EU money in response to the crisis,
increasing funding to the export sector. Internet access is not
viewed by Latvian authorities as a significant problem; therefore,
an increase in funding to communication infrastructure projects is
unlikely. Furthermore, Latvia has decided to divert the funds the
European Commission allocated to expansion of broadband networks, as
part of the European Economic Recovery Plan, to projects in the
dairy sector.
ROGERS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS ECON LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA: BROADBAND INTERNET DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY
Ref: State 27310
1. In 2006 and 2007, Latvia carried out several small projects to
increase internet access in Latvian provinces and a single
major-scale project to increase broadband access in rural areas. The
projects were implemented and co-financed by local governments and
the central government, with the majority of the funding provided by
EU structural funds. Latvia has listed internet access and
availability promotion as an activity eligible for EU structural
funds for the 2007-2013 EU budgetary period, but this activity is
not designed to target rural areas or specifically increase
broadband deployment. However, given Latvia's severe economic
decline and the associated budgetary issues, the outlook for
additional projects in the future is grim.
2. Falling budget revenues have significantly limited Latvia's
ability to co-finance any EU projects. There are bureaucratic
obstacles as well, since Latvia has not yet adopted guidelines and
evaluation criteria necessary to launch this program. One reason
behind this delay is the GOL plan to reprioritize the national list
of activities eligible for EU money in response to the crisis,
increasing funding to the export sector. Internet access is not
viewed by Latvian authorities as a significant problem; therefore,
an increase in funding to communication infrastructure projects is
unlikely. Furthermore, Latvia has decided to divert the funds the
European Commission allocated to expansion of broadband networks, as
part of the European Economic Recovery Plan, to projects in the
dairy sector.
ROGERS